Walter Mazzarri blames Napoli sacking on Victor Osimhen’s AFCON 2023 outing

Walter Mazzarri who was recently sacked by Napoli has revealed his Victor Osimhen’s presence in the Napoli team could have bought him more time at the club before he was fired.

Osimhen was away for one month to honour his country at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Cote d’Ivoire.

Sadly, Nigeria finished second behind the hosts with the Napoli hitman registering just one goal in seven matches of the tournament.

Mazzarri was appointed as the Gli Azzurri boss after a poor start to the season with Rudi Garcia in charge, with the hope that the Nigerian striker would help him the same way he helped Spalletti.

Napoli hired Rudi Garcia to replace the departing Luciano Spalletti who is now the manager of the Italian national team.

Osimhen scored 26 league goals in Spalletti’s last season to help Napoli to their first Scudetto in 33 years.

However, the 25-year-old could only play eight games under Mazzarri before leaving for the 2023 AFCON as Napoli recorded just three wins from nine games in his absence.

According to a report by La Repubblica, the former Cagliari coach wished he had Osimhen to face Barcelona in Napoli’s UEFA Champions League round of sixteen tie on Wednesday to buy him a bit of time. Unfortunately, he got fired before it could happen.

“I was hoping to manage against Barcelona with Victor Osimhen on the pitch,” Mazzarri said to La Repubblica in quotes revealed by CN24.